Annual vs. Multiple-Year Home Range Sizes of Individual Blanding's Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii, in Central Wisconsin

Authors

  • Matthew Schuler 1816 Norway Pine Lane, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
  • Richard P. Thiel Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Sandhill Wildlife Area, 1715 Highway X, Babcock, Wisconsin 54413

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v122i1.545

Keywords:

Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, life range, home range, Wisconsin

Abstract

Most studies of home ranges occur over short time periods and may not represent the spacial requirements of long-lived organisms such as turtles. Home ranges of 18 individual Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) were measured using minimum convex polygons. Annual space use was compared to multi-year space use by individual turtles. We found a significant difference between annual home range size (25.5 hectares) and multi-year (two to six years) home range size (65.7 hectares; n = 18, P = 0.016). Caution should be employed when making management decisions based on short-term studies of long lived species.

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Issue

Vol. 122 No. 1 (2008)

Section

Articles

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